Emperor Xiao only offered a faint smile, but his eyes trailed after the woman's back. A glint of interest flashed through them. Somehow, the Third Young Miss felt… different today.
…
"Miss! I finally found you! Why aren't you wearing your veil?"
In the midst of the crowd, a small pair of hands suddenly gripped Su Yiyi's sleeve tightly. A little girl with red-rimmed eyes looked up at her, appearing utterly pitiful. She had searched for Su Yiyi all night long. Upon hearing rumors on the street that the eldest miss had dragged someone to the red-light district, she rushed over without hesitation.
The third daughter of the Prime Minister's residence was said to be hideous, and always wore a veil when outside—commoners didn't recognize her face. Only court officials and noble ladies knew what she looked like beneath it.
Su Yiyi frowned, but the little girl didn't give her a chance to speak. "Miss, you must come home immediately! The Prime Minister has heard about the brothel incident and he is absolutely furious! Miss, you have to explain things yourself!"
"Wait." Su Yiyi stopped in her tracks, her mind spinning.
Could it be that the body she'd transmigrated into was the very Third Young Miss of Xiangfu they were all talking about?
"What's your name?" she asked cautiously.
"My name is Chunliu, Miss—please don't scare me like this!"
The little maid froze for a moment, then looked at her with wide, frightened eyes.
Su Yiyi massaged her forehead and put on a pained expression. "I… bumped into something and my memory's hazy. Can you tell me… what exactly is my relationship with the prince?"
She acted with such precision that Chunliu didn't even doubt her for a second.
"Oh heavens, Miss, are you hurt? You and His Highness are engaged, but the Emperor hasn't set the wedding date. You've been heartbroken about it recently…"
Su Yiyi's lips twitched. A terrible feeling grew in her chest.
So she wasn't just ugly—she was also obsessing over a man who clearly didn't want her?
She recalled the prince's disgusted expression. Tch. Was she the kind of brainless woman who clung to men like weeds to a tree? No way! She had been a top military doctor! If she couldn't survive in ancient times, she'd eat her own stethoscope!
…
As she stepped into the grand residence of the Prime Minister, with its green tiles and red columns, Su Yiyi felt a rare surge of joy.
At least the heavens didn't treat her too cruelly. The daughter of the Prime Minister's residence? Oh, she could already see herself rolling in money and choking on fatty meats...
Smack!
The slap came from nowhere, striking her squarely on the cheek. Su Yiyi, who had just taken a step into the hall, shivered as her dream crumbled to dust. She blinked and looked around, only to find everyone staring at her with strange expressions.
Chunliu knelt at her side immediately. "Prime Minister, please don't be angry! The young miss has been injured and doesn't remember what happened. Please forgive her just this once…"
This maid's loyalty nearly moved Su Yiyi to tears. But a cold snort interrupted.
"Injured? Isn't she standing here perfectly fine?"
The voice came from a girl in a pink dress—Xiangfu's Fourth Miss, Su Yuanyuan. She sneered at Su Yiyi with undisguised hostility.
"Father can't protect her anymore. This time, she's shamed all of Xiangfu!"
Prime Minister Su Wen stared at the drenched young woman in disbelief, pointing at her disheveled state with a trembling finger.
"You… How did you end up like this?"
"Master, please calm yourself," came a concerned voice from the side.
It was Lady Liu, the Prime Minister's wife. She appeared gentle and refined as she supported her husband with delicate hands, though her words carried hidden daggers.
"This child must've been kidnapped last night. Who knows what she's suffered? Weren't there wanted criminals in the capital recently?"
A clever attempt at sowing doubt.
Su Yuanyuan stepped forward, her voice righteous and loud.
"Father, Mother, I must speak the truth. Third Sister wasn't kidnapped. She… went to the brothel herself!"
"What nonsense are you spouting, Yuanyuan?" Lady Liu exclaimed in shock—but her eyes sparkled with delight.
"I dare not lie," Su Yuanyuan insisted. "She heard there were handsome men at the brothel and wanted to see them. She was heartbroken over His Highness and said she wanted to 'have fun' to forget her sorrows. I didn't think… she'd actually go through with it!"
A collective gasp filled the air. Even if Su Yiyi had always been unruly, this kind of behavior was beyond belief. If word spread, the Prime Minister's residence would be thoroughly disgraced.
Lady Liu cried out, "What should we do now? The master couldn't sleep all night from worry. Yiyi, how could you act so shamelessly?"
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Was this her real mother?
How could a biological mother throw her own daughter under the carriage like that?
What Su Yiyi didn't know was that the original Third Miss was the daughter of a concubine. Though the Prime Minister doted on her, this had long been a source of resentment. The prince, too, was offended—how could the Prime Minister offer him a concubine's daughter? And a fool in love at that?
"This is my fault," the Prime Minister groaned. "I spoiled you too much. What do you have to say for yourself?"
Su Yiyi fell silent. Wasn't she supposed to be rich and pampered in this life? Why did it feel like she had just walked into a tiger's den?